Germany: National Program for SMEs

Germany: National Program for SME

In contrast to ESA the German space agency DLR has long established its guideline of a 20 percent participation of SMEs. The willingness and the pathways are there. However, unfortunately the national program, reestablished in 2001, seems to be of secondary priority and is in case of doubt subject to compensating cuts.

The introduction of a permanently stable national program core reserved for SMEs would put an end to the negative effects of program volatility on those standing here at the end of the nutrition-, but at the beginning of the innovation-and efﬁciency-chain. It would also considerably boost the investments of SMEs.